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California Mulling a Law That Would Require Lactation Rooms in Airports

Earlier this year, Delta Airlines was forced to apologize for telling a mom she wouldn’t be able to breastfeed her infant child on a flight if she didn’t have a cover up.

“Delta welcomes breastfeeding mothers and babies on our flights. We apologize for the misinformation earlier.”

It wasn’t an effusive mea cupla, but it was a step in the right direction. While I breastfeed both of my daughters and always used a cover-up while doing so in public — and have never seen why a cover-up is a big deal — I fully support a woman’s right to nurse her baby wherever and whenever she needs to.

It would be nice if there were more places other than toilets or sidewalks to breastfeed — particularly places that feel private and quiet, not to mention sanitary. This way, women don’t have to fear getting on an airplane or going to a restaurant where they’ll feel unwelcome if their baby needs to eat.

California has those women’s backs. Or at least they’re trying to. According to NBC News, the state assembly there recently passed AB 1787, which would require private space for moms in the state’s largest airports to breastfeed and pump. The rooms would provide chairs and electrical outlets.

Highlighted in the bill is the fact that while it’s mandatory in workplaces to give new moms a place to pump, many working women travel for their jobs. Should the bill receive approval in the state senate, airports in California would need to be in compliance by 2016.

It would seem unlikely that anyone could be against the bill. There are plenty of people who get offended by women who breastfeed in public, and this would obviously help cut down on instances of that happening. It can also be stressful for nursing moms in general, and sometimes having to worry about calming a hungry, fussy baby and worrying whose watching? It’s just another unnecessary source of stress.

The care and feeding of a baby is of paramount importance, and anything to make it easier for the baby and the mom seems like a no-brainer. Let’s hope that, for once, having politicians thinking about boobs will end in success and not scandal.

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Content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical or health, safety, legal or financial advice. Click here for additional information.